MINUTES – PUBLIC – ARTS, CULTURE, LETTERS AND HERITAGE COMMISSION

Presentation: Redesign process for the Cultural Organization Support Program

The objectives of the presentation are to inform the members of the Commission of the steps begun and upcoming regarding the redesign process of the Programme de soutien aux organismes culturels (PSOC) and to collect their comments.

Members review a summary of the current program, the issues, and preliminary findings regarding the PSOC.

It is asked who will be invited to participate in the consultations. It is answered that the invitation will be sent to all relevant cultural organizations.

It is suggested to take into account the brief produced by Culture Outaouais as part of the update of the Cultural Policy, as several elements deal with the support program.

Some members question the upcoming steps and the role that an Arts Council could play in the redesign and the possible involvement of the support program. It is answered that this reflection has been included in the Cultural Policy action plan. It is added that both reflections, namely the redesign of the program and the evaluation of the relevance of setting up an Arts Council, will feed into each other in parallel.

It is asked if a reflection on training is planned as part of the redesign. It is answered that ad hoc training is currently offered to organizations and that this point will also be reviewed based on the requests and needs that will be identified.

Presentation: Mandate and composition of the Cultural Policy monitoring committee

The objective is to obtain a recommendation from the Commission regarding the mandate and composition of the Cultural Policy monitoring committee. The establishment of a monitoring committee aims to ensure follow-up on the work of the Cultural Policy and the associated action plans.

The proposal for its mandate and composition is described as follows:

Mandate:

• Receive, comment on, and validate the progress grid of the work, evaluations, and reports produced by the SACL (Service des arts, de la culture et des lettres);
• Identify constraints, opportunities, and issues encountered in the implementation of the policy and its action plans;
• Issue opinions to the CACLP (Commission des arts, de la culture, des lettres et du patrimoine);
• Act as an ambassador for the Cultural Policy.

Composition:

• Two (2) municipal elected officials, including the chair of the CACLP;
• Two (2) representatives from the cultural sector (one professional organization and one cultural leisure organization);
• Three (3) SACL employees: department director, head of service – Cultural Animation and Dissemination, head of service – Library and Letters.

It is suggested that a citizen member be included in the committee. Questions and comments regarding the roles and contribution of the Commission and those of the monitoring committee are raised. In short, it is suggested not to create a new committee and to mandate the Commission to act as a monitoring committee with a view to continuity. It is also proposed to invite resource persons according to the themes addressed in order to enrich and fuel the discussions.

It is agreed to include a statutory item for follow-up on the agenda of the meetings. Time will be reserved, twice a year (March and October), during the meetings already scheduled on the calendar, to hold working sessions. The members agree to this option and everything will be discussed again as the case may be.

The Commission recommends to the municipal council: CACLP-2024-02

• to mandate the Commission des arts, de la culture, des lettres et du patrimoine to act as a monitoring committee to ensure follow-up on the work of the Cultural Policy and the associated action plans. This committee will have the mandate:
  • to receive, comment on, and validate the progress grid of the work, evaluations, and reports produced by the SACL;
  • to identify constraints, opportunities, and issues encountered in the implementation of the Policy and its action plans;
  • to act as an ambassador for the Cultural Policy.

It is proposed by Marie Trouis, seconded by Marie Roy.

Adopted

8.1. Follow-up request regarding the presentation of cultural infrastructure projects to the municipal council

A status update on the cultural infrastructure projects that were presented to the municipal council in 2022 is requested. Have business plans been presented as requested by the council? A follow-up will be done at the next meeting.

Support request for the modernization of the auditorium Alphonse-Desjardins of the Cégep de l’Outaouais

Following the exchanges between the members, it is suggested to consider the possibility that the Cégep could implement concrete initiatives to involve its clientele in the process, such as the formation of a student committee. Similarly, it is proposed that the Cégep evaluate the possibility of offering training for stage technicians, which could meet a resource need in the region. It would also be important in the agreement between the Cégep and the City that certain elements be clarified, such as ensuring that the free show tickets offered to vulnerable clienteles are not just leftover tickets.

The members agree that:

CONSIDERING THAT the needs for performance halls in Gatineau have been exposed and are real;

CONSIDERING THAT the auditorium Alphonse-Desjardins is an existing cultural infrastructure and that its modernization would entail lower costs compared to the construction of a new infrastructure;

CONSIDERING THAT the partnership efforts undertaken between the Cégep and the Maison de la culture could allow for obtaining funding from the ministère de la Culture et des Communications for the modernization of the auditorium Alphonse-Desjardins;

CONSIDERING THAT the location of the hall, situated in the northwest of the city, will meet a need and ensure better cultural service for this Gatineau territory, especially since the STO is in discussions with the Cégep in order to review the service to the Aylmer sector regarding public transit;

CONSIDERING THAT the development of the next generation is a priority included in the Cultural Policy and that the "young adult" clientele attending the Cégep will be able to be sensitized and benefit from it.

The artist residency is part of the request.

The Commission des arts, de la culture, des lettres et du patrimoine recommends to the municipal council: CACLP-2024-03

• to support the modernization project of the auditorium Alphonse-Desjardins of the Cégep de l’Outaouais.

It is proposed by Marie Trouis, seconded by Isabelle N. Miron.

Recommended unanimously